HL Deb 22 January 1998 vol 584 c260WA
Baroness Robson of Kiddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether trials have been conducted by the NHS in order to establish comparative rates of morbidity and mortality following the treatment of varicose veins by:

  1. (a) surgery; and
  2. (b) the Fegan compression-sclerotherapy technique;

and, if not, whether they will encourage the carrying out of such trials. [HL180]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

As part of our national programme for research and development the health technology assessment programme is to commission a three year trial at the University of Sheffield to assess the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of varicose veins. Patients will be randomised to three groups—conservative treatment (lifestyle advice, compression hosiery, etc), injection sclerotherapy, and surgery.